Destinations and sights in Sicily for your holidays
There are many destinations in Sicily to discover. In order not to miss the most beautiful sights in Sicily, you should organize yourself well in advance. A trip to Sicily promises variety if you set off to enjoy the beauty of the island with all your senses. Sicily offers not only its beautiful landscape, the turquoise blue sea with fantastic beaches, but also countless important cultural heritage from different eras. Remains of Phoenician settlements, Greek temples, Norman castles, Punic towns and Aragonese churches can be found all over the island.
The capital, Palermo, offers the rich heritage of the Normans, art and culture, markets and a distinctive nightlife. Catania, with its extensive pedestrian zone, scores with the most beautiful fish market in Sicily. However, the beauty of the university city is only revealed at second glance.
One of the highlights of a trip to Sicily is a visit to the exceptionally well-preserved temples of Segesta, Selinunte and the Valley of Temples in Agrigento, which even offer a better insight into Greek temple construction than the temples in the motherland itself.
Another testimony of Greek rule is the second largest theatre of antiquity in the port city of Syracuse. But if one explores Syracuse, a walk over the peninsula Ortigia, which forms the historical centre of the city, is particularly fascinating. Here, the visitor feels transported to a different time, especially as the traffic is very limited and you can go on a discovery tour according to one's heart's desire. On a boat trip around the peninsula with side trips to different caves, the play of colours of the turquoise sea impresses in contrast to the houses and monuments erected in yellow sandstone.
Also in Taormina the Greeks have left their traces in the form of the Teatro Greco. Although this theatre is smaller than the one in Syracuse, it offers a unique view to the volcano Etna and therefore deserves a visit.
Those who don't have much time for their stay in Sicily should best choose the enchanting lively place Cefalù as location. Here you have the sandy beach right in front of your door and an impressive Norman cathedral and pedestrian-friendly old town alleys are a wonderful start for discovering the island. From here it is easy to get to Palermo or go on a hike in the mountains of the Madonie.
For lovers of volcanic landscapes, a trip to the Cyclopean Islands in Aci Trezza is of course an ideal option, and don’t miss a hike on Mount Etna.
But those who want to be fascinated by the baroque style should explore the southernmost part of Sicily and thus the cities Noto, Modica and Ragusa, which are all declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites.